Coast Guard works to recover anchor

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The missing anchor and chain from the tank vessel Siteam Aniara has been found in the Cooper River Saturday night.

The vessel’s owner has hired Salmons Salvage, which has found the anchor and chain. The Coast Guard will establish a temporary safety zone restricting vessel traffic during the recovery of the anchor and chain. The safety zone is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The previous safety zone established restricting deep-draft vessels has been removed; however, deep-draft vessels are urged to proceed with caution when transiting near the submerged anchor and chain.

Coast Guard and local authorities continue to work with the ship and its agents in the planning to recover the anchor and re-open the Cooper and Wando River to all traffic without restrictions.

Previously, the Siteam Aniara, a 584-foot Liberian-flagged tank vessel, lost propulsion in the Cooper River just north of the Ravenel Bridge. The vessel dropped its port anchor, which separated from the vessel and sank.